Wacker Neuson hosted
its second annual contracted
dealer summit at the
company’s North American
manufacturing facility
and corporate headquarters
in Menomonee Falls,
WI, October 1-3, 2013.
The highlights of the event
included the much anticipated
unveiling of Wacker
Neuson’s new skid-steer
line for the North American
market and the chance for
one lucky dealer to win the
first unit off the production
line.

Over 150 people representing
100 companies
from the United States and
Canada gathered in Wacker
Neuson’s manufacturing
plant to hear Christopher
Barnard, President and
CEO of Wacker Neuson
Corp., explain the strategy
for the development and
production of the skid steer
product line. As Barnard
explained, “We have the
vision, commitment and
execution to complete this
critical piece of the puzzle
for our product line. With
the addition of our new
skid-steer line, we can now
offer dealers the most comprehensive
and competitively
unique line of light
and compact equipment in
the industry.”

Barnard unveiled the
new skid and track loaders
after explaining to the
dealers and employees that
many options were considered
to bring a quality skidsteer
line to the market,
concluding with, “Wacker
Neuson decided for its
own development in order
to control the design, the
manufacturing, the quality,
and the cost, which will
benefit us all. We are confident
that these new models
will exemplify the quality
and durability that the industry
associates with the
Wacker Neuson brand,”
Barnard said.

Wacker Neuson has
more than 10 years of experience
in designing and
manufacturing skid steer
loaders for the European
market. “The requirements
of the customers in the U.S.
are different and North
America is the biggest skidsteer
market in the world.
That’s the reason why we
decided to design a product
line for this important market”,
said Martin Lehner,
CTO of Wacker Neuson SE.

The design of the SSL
models will be done jointly
between Wacker Neuson’s
facility in Hoersching,
Austria and Menomonee
Falls, Wis., USA. The new
models will officially hit
the market at CONEXPO,
March 4-8, 2014, in Las Vegas
with two skid steer and
two track loaders offered in
a variety of packages and
price ranges to fit the North
American market.

After getting their first
look at the SSL product
line, the machines were
moved to the dirt where
dealers could operate the
machines. “These machines
look and feel robust
and tough,” said Sam
Eaton, Vice President and
General Manager, Knickerbocker
Russell Co.,
Pittsburgh, Pa. “It’s a nice
looking machine and was
very responsive, comfortable
with easy to reach
controls. The 75-horsepower
engine had all the
power it needed. The cab
is ergonomically pleasing
and the best I’ve ever
seen. It took only a few
minutes to get the hang of
it.” Eaton said.

Jeff Barnes, CEO of
Barnsco, Dallas, Texas,
said, “We were looking for
a quality skid-steer to go
into our rental line and this
certainly fits that requirement.
It is a well-designed,
comfortable unit that is
capable of meeting the demands
of any job.”

A real highlight of the
two-day dealer event was
the opportunity for an attendee
of the meeting to
enter a drawing to win the
first machine off the production
line. The winner
was Ryan Ouye, General
Manager, Service Rentals
and Supply, Maui, Hi. As a
result of his win, Ouye and
his company will also give
back to the community. He
explained, “The winning
skid steer will go into our
rental fleet and half of the
rental revenue will be donated
to a local non-profit.
Our employees will be able
to choose which organization
will receive the donation.”

The Wacker Neuson
compact equipment product
range includes track
and wheeled excavators,
articulated and all-wheel
steer wheel loaders and
dumpers. Wacker Neuson
is well known for its light
equipment products, such
as rammers, plates, rollers,
breakers, heaters, generators,
light towers, trowels,
concrete vibrators and
more. The company’s U.S.
operation was established
more than 50 years ago and
it’s complete line of products
are sold and rented by
a network of dealers and
supported by an industry
leading team of factory
trained sales, application
and service personnel.